Terry Vann, longtime Lenoir City judge, dies

 

Hugh G. Willett, Special to the News Sentinel

Longtime Loudon County attorney and Lenoir City municipal judge Terry G. Vann died Sunday. He was 68.

"He was an extraordinary individual and a fair judge. We're going to miss him," Lenoir City Mayor Tony Aikens said.

Family members said Vann made the ultimate sacrifice for his country almost 40 years after returning from war.

Vann, a veteran of the Vietnam War, died of a cancer known as angiosarcoma, one of many diseases, that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs concedes are results of exposure to the chemical known as Agent Orange.

A 1966 Lenoir City High graduate, Vann joined the Marine Corps following high school. He was honorably discharged in fall 1968.

Vann enrolled in college after his discharge, earning his bachelor's degree in 1972. In 1974 he graduated from the University of Tennessee Law School.

Vann practiced law in Lenoir City for more than 40 years, running his own title company.

He was also active in public service, being elected to the Loudon County Commission in 1976, where he served until 1980. He served as the city attorney for Lenoir City from 1977 until 2000. For the past 16 years, Vann served in the elected position of city judge.

"He was very much associated with Lenoir City," Aikens said.

According to Aikens, Vann had the proud distinction of being the last elected justice of the peace in Tennessee in 1975.

Survivors include his wife, Gail McNabb Vann; mother-in-law, Mildred McNabb of Lenoir City; brothers-in-law, Gary McNabb of Talbott and Mike McNabb of Morristown; and nephews Matthew and Shelby McNabb, both of Morristown.

The family will receive friends from 5- 7 p.m. on Wednesday at My Father's House, 201 North A Street, Lenoir City. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org or mailed to the DAV Charitable Service Trust, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Springs, Ky. 41076.